Strong As Love
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Maxine Wallace
Team Cliff & Vi
Michelle Laberer, 38, keeps busy. Somewhere between work, school and tablet time, she has won over 50 medals in the Special Olympics. After she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsey and moderate developmental delays, doctors were convinced she would never walk or talk. But her mother, Barbara Laberer, 63, said, “Hold my beer."
Union Alderman Barbara has been her daughter’s fiercest advocate. Equal parts nurse and sports manager, Barbara has dedicated herself to making sure no one counts Michelle out. “I fought for them to keep her in mainstream school," Barbara said. With community support, Michelle was enrolled in the Special Olympics where she dominated in lifting, basketball and other events. Michelle has also held a job for the last 18 years at the Empac Group Sheltered Workshop. The sheltered workshop employs people with varying developmental and physical disabilities. “Michelle is my hero,” Barbara said.
Michelle Laberer, 38, moves cans on to a conveyor belt at the Empac Group Sheltered Workshop in Washington, Mo. Michelle has worked at the workshop for 18 years. The sheltered workshop employs people with varying developmental and physical disabilities.
Michelle, left, eats lunch with her coworker Eliseo, right, in the break room.
Michelle prepares to execute a deadlift at Anytime Fitness Gym in St.Clair, Mo.This is the first time Michelle has lifted weights since her wrist surgery in May.
Michelle attends golf practice after work at Wolf Hollow Golf Club in Labadie, Mo. Golf is one of her least favorite sports “I like softball more than golf," she said.
Michelle practices throwing and catching during softball practice at East Park in Union, Mo. “In softball, you get to run," said Michelle.
Michelle’s mother, Barbara Laberer, 63, helps hang a fraction of Michelle’s medals from the Special Olympics on Michelle’s neck in the kitchen of their home in Union. “When the doctors told me Michelle would never walk or communicate I said, 'Hold my beer,'" Barbara said.
The refrigerator at Michelle's home is a collection of magnets and family photos.
Michelle shows off her Wonder Woman singlet that she wears for powerlifting. Her mother, Barbara, found the singlet as she was looking for the perfect one for Michelle. “Michelle is my hero," said Barbara.
Barbara styles Michelle's hair into a ponytail for Michelle’s softball practice. “Michelle has trouble putting her hair into a ponytail so I do it”, said Barbara.
Michelle and Barbara embrace before they set off for Michelle’s softball practice.
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